Corn-husking machine



T. H. OPPENHEIM ET AL March 22 27- CORN HUSKING MACHINE Filed Nov. 29, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet l 9, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 gmentoz March T. H. OPPENHEIM ET AL CORN HUSKING MACHINE Filed Nov. 2

March 22 1927.

T. H. OPPENHEIM I ET AL 4 CORN HUSKING MACHINE F iled Nov- 29 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Mar. 22, 1927.

GFFICYE.

UNITED s'rarns THEODORE H. OPPENHEIM AND BERNARD SEE-HORST, OF -COLDWATER, OHIO, AS-

SIGNORS TO NEW IDEA SPREADER'CO 0F COLDWATE R, 0Hi0,' A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

(BURN-HUSKING MA CI TINE.

7 Application filediv oveniber 29, 1924. Serial No. 7532007.

This invention relatesto corn 'husking machinesyand has special reference to the frame structure.

One object of the invention is to prov de a frame or support for-the several operating parts,'which willvbe compact, strong, rigid and durable and which will produce a compa'rativelylow; machine which may be easily moved through the door of a barn or storehouse and will also permit a farmer to use a low wagon and transfer the bundles of corn from such a wagon to the feeding table of the huskingmachine.

*Another object of the invention is to provide an improved support for the blower sp'out; and another object of the invention is to provide 'an-im'proved mounting for the ear conveyor.

The invention also seeks to provide a struc ture whereby the side-table may be disposed within the lines of the sidesof the machine when the machine is'to betransported.

' Other objects will appear incidentally in the course of'the following description, and the invention resides in certain novel featureswhich will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figs. 1 and 2 are elevations, partly broken awayfof acorn husking machine embodying ourpresent invention, the views showing opposite sides ofthe machine and Fig. 1 showthe machine arranged for use, while Fig. 2 shows=it arranged fortransportation or storage;

Fig. 3' is aplan view of the machine, showingthe blast spout and the ear conveyor in the positionillustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 1 is a rear end elevation.

, The machine is mounted for travel upon wheels 1 and 2, the front wheels 1 being mounted upon spindles adapted to turn pivotally on the ends of the front axle and connected by a link 8, wherebythe wheels are always parallel. This arrangement will permitt-hemachine to be easily steered around sharp turns. To the front axle 1 we secure asteering pole or draft tongue 5 and we also provide short guide posts 6 depending from the front end of the frame the rear end of the frame being carried by the rear axle 8 upon which is securedan inverted channel bar-9, whereby the rear axle is reinforced, and a supporting base of appreciable area is provided forthe side bars 9 of the frame. These side I bars are preferably angle bars, but they 'may be of any other preferred configuration. :They are secured rigidly to the channel bar' 9 and they constitute the chord memberszof trusses whereby the load imposed :upon the frameiis carried with minimum strain. Aingle: bars 10 aresecured to the undersidesotthe side bars andexte'nd between the same so as to impart rigidity thereto and preventlateral spreading of the frame. The trusses, of vvhich'the sidebars are lower chords; are defined on one side of the machine by the forward inclined angle bar 11 a which constitutes a part of the husking noll'bed, the'rear Iinclined'bar l2 and intermediatebar .13, the-rear bar 12 and the intermediate :bar 13:extending to and above the top sill or beam'i i-o-f the frame. On the opposite side iofth'e machine there are the forward linclinedwbar 15'Whichconstitutes part ofthehuski'ng roll -.bed,-rear inclinedi bar 16 1and i 'rrtermediate'bar 17 the bars 16l and 17 extending .to :and above the top sill or beam 1 8. The loWerends of the inclined bars 11, 12,115 and 1-6 are connected rigidly with-the respective side bars 9,either by being boltedi'or riveted directly thereto or being connected therewith through intermediate gusset'plates 19. The rear end of the frame bar 15 is rigidly secured to the bar 16, and the rear end of the'ba'r 11 is rigidly secured to the bar 12. The drawings showthe bar 13-extended vertically downwardand'secured to the subjacent side bar 9 while the bar- 17 is fconnectedwith the corresponding sidebar 9 by a vertical bar 171. A very strongsload-carrying frame is thus produced.

The barsll and'15 are bolted or riveted to the intermediate bars 13 and17 and extend past the sameto the bars 12 and 16, respectively, to which their ends are rigidly secured. The bars 19. and 16 also define the rear end of the machine and 'the upper members 1 1 and 18 are rigidly secured thereto. Vertical bars 19 are provided at the front end of the frame and extend between the re spective side. bars and top sills, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 andil. Intermediate the bars 17 and 19 on one side and the bars 13 and 19 on the other side of the machine are vertical members 20 which are rigidly secured attheir upper ends to the top side beams and near their lower ends to horizontal bars 21 which extend rearwardly from the front vertical bars 19. The spaces defined by the several frame bars are closed or covered by suitably shaped sheet metal panels, such as 22, which are rigidly secured by bolts or rivets to the several frame bars, so that the entire interior of theunachine will be enclosed and the operator will be protected from possible injury through contact with the moving parts. Such parts of the operating gearing as may belocated on the out side of the machine are covered by gear casings .3 of proper form, as will be readily understood. Between the lower ends of the vertical members 20 and the respective inclined bars 11 and 15, short members 2% may be secured so as to firmly support the bars 21 and impart additional rigidity to the frame structure. The upper extremities of the bars 16 and 17 at one side of the machine and of the bars 12 and 18 at the opposite side, re

spectively, are rigidly secured together to provide a firm support for the upper ends of the snapping rolls, and frame plates 25 are secured upon the upper ends of these bars so asito protect the operator against accidental Contact with the rolls or parts adjacent the same. The snapping rolls and the husking rolls, indicated at 26 and 27, respectively, are mounted in cross bars or yokes 28 which are bolted to the frame members 11, 13, 15 and 17, respectively, and ertend across the entire width of the machine, so that they in turn constitute bracing or tic members to prevent spreading of the sides of the frame and to maintain the same in proper plumb condition at all times. i The arrangement of the frame elements 11., 13 and 20 on one side of the machine and the frame elements 15, 17 and 20 on the opposite side, concentrate strength at about the center of the apparatus where the gearing, indicated generally hy the numeral 29, for driving the snapping and husking rolls is located. A very rigid and firm support for LlllS gearing is necessary in order to hold the gears at the ends of the rolls in proper mesh at all times, and the particular construction provided by us effectually accomplishes this result.

Our machine includes a feeding conveyor 39 which is mounted in the top portion of the frame and onto whichare delivered the bun dies of corn from which the ears of corn are to be removed and stripped of the husks. This feeding table or conveyor is driven by a shaft 31 mounted transversely in the upper part of the machine and actuated by the sprocket gearing ,A transverse shaft 33 is disposed transversely of the machine below the shaft 81 and constitutes a part of the gearing designated, as an entirety, by the numeral 29. The shaft 33 carries two sprockets at one side of the machine and one of these sprockets engages the chain of the sprocket gearing 32, while the other sprocket connected by similar gearing 84 with the shaft 35 arranged near the front end of the machine and equipped with an eccentric 36 whereby a reciprocatory motion is imparted to the pitman 37 which extends rearwardly and is pivotally attached to the side of a shaking screen 38 supported in the lower portion of the machine, the eccentric 86 and pitman 37 being duplicated on the two sides of the machine. Springs 39 cooperate with the eccentrics 36 to maintain the proper engagement of the pitmen wit-h the eccentrics and to secure the desired reciprocation of the shaking screen. Swinging hangers 40 are pivoted at their upper ends to the longitudinal bars 21 and to the bars 12 and 16, respectively, and at their lower ends to the shaking screen so that it will be properly supported for a rocking or oscillatory move ment.

A cutter head ell is provided near the rear end of the machine and this cutter head is opera'tively connected with the gearing 29 through a chain 29 so that the snapping and husking rolls will rotate in unison with and be driven from the cutter head. The shear plate, indicated at 41, with which the cutter head cooperates, is carried by gusset plates 17, one of which is secured in the anangle defined by the frame bars 15 and 17 and the other of which is secured in the an gle defined by the corresponding bars 11 and 13. The driving member of gearing 29 is disposed at one side of the machine, has been stated, and at the other side of the machine the cutter head shaft carries a pulley 42 which is connected by a belt 43 with a pulley is on the blower shaft 45. A sec- 0nd pulley do is also secured upon the cutter head shaft at the side of the pulley 4:2 and this pulley 46 receives power from any convenient prime motor, so that necessary move ment will be imparted to all the working parts. At one side of the machine the shaft 35 is connected by gearing 47 with the shaft 48 which actuates the ear conveyor 1-9, so that the husked ears of corn may be carried from the machine and delivered into any desired receptacle.

The ear conveyor belt 49 travels through a trough 50 which is supported at its lower end for rocking movement upon the shaft 48 and is constructed in two sections, hin 'edly connected, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Ti lie conveyor may thus be folded backwardly so as to extend partly over the machine when the machine is to be shipped or stored, and to support the free end of the conveyor in its folded or collapsed condition, we provide a support consisting of a post 51 which is shown secured upon the top of the machine at the front end thereof and carries a cross bar or plate 52 at its upper end of sufficient Width to provide a firm rest for the end of menses theconveyor, as shown inEig. 2. Tosupport the conveyor in its operative position, we provide chains 53 which are engaged around or with thetrough in-any convenient manner and are also engaged-'over hoolrs 54 at the upper ends of supporting arms 55 which are secured to the front end of the machine. These supporting arms 55, as clearlyshown in Figs. 1 and 2, have lower branches which are riveted Or bolted to the bars 19 and extend outwardly and forwardly therefromvand vertical brancheswhich rise substantially to the top of the machine. Sheet steel-plates, indicated at 56, aresecured across the front end of the machine immediately above the lower branches of the brackets or arms 55, and these plates-not only serve as closures for the end of the machine but also constitute braces to-prevent lateral spreading. Similar plates are secured and extend between the upper portions of the rear bars 12 and 1-6. Immediately above the plates 56, similar plates 57 are hingedly secured at their upper ends to the top of the machine, these swinging plates being normallyin their pendent closed positions but being capable of being swung upwardly to permit accessto the interior of the machine when repairs or adjustments are-needed. A platform 58-rests normally upon the lower horizontal branches of the supporting arms 55, and diagonal braces 55 extending between the same, and is hinged "to the plate 56. The operator feeding the corn. to the interior of the machine may stand upon this platform 58 and will be in posit-ionto guide the bundles onto the feeding conveyor 80, while at thesame time he will be at sufficient distance from the snapping and husking rolls to avoid injury. Vi hen the ear conveyor is in its lower operative position, it'will be clear of the free edgeof this platform, but when it is swung upwardly, it willcome into contact withthe free edge of the platform and willswing the same upwardly, as shown in Fig. 2. To reinforce the platform and guard against collapse of the structure while an operator is standing thereon, we provide the braces 59 which are secured to the front ends of the side bars 9 and extend upwardly and forwardly therefrom to the supporting arms 55 where they are rigidly secured, extending across the bends in the arms and serving as gusset plates to brace the arms and aid in resisting the pulling strain imposed thereon by the ear conveyor. A cross bar 59 is secured to and extends between the upper ends of the arms 55 to prevent lateral spreading thereof and to provide a rest for the operator during the intervals when there are no bundles of corn at hand to be fed into the machine. A small seat may be hung on this cross bar, if desired.

Thewside table or board onto which the bundles are delivered as they fall in passing to the feeding conveyor 30, is shown at (30. It may be arranged at either side of the machine as may be preferred, and it is held in place by having slots which are provided near its inner edge engaged overbrackets 62 provided therefor upon the bar 1a or 1S,as the case may be, and at the upperendsof the supporting arms 55. It will-be noted that this sideboard is of such extent and so disposed that an operator standing upon the platform 58 can easily reach and handle the bUDCllGSWlllCll are deposited on the side board. At the-same time, the platform 58 may be-easily reached by the operator-when he is to start work and it is not necessary for hinr to climb over or under projecting barriers as is the case in most previous machines now known to us. 'loprevent thebundles being thrown across the machine when it is in operation, aback board 63 is provided and this bacl: boardis arranged on edge alt theside of the machine remote from the side board so that it constitutes a barrier to the movement of any bundles hich may be thrown onto the machine with undue force. The side board 60 and the backboard 63 extend up to a hopper or guiding box at which extends across the machine immediately over the upper portions of the snapping rolls and serves to guide the bundles of corn to the snapping rolls as well as to prevent an operator or a bystander reaching over theside of the machine and coming into contact with the snapping rolls and incurring serious in jury. Bracing rods orprops 65 may be provided on the side of the machine to support the outer edge portion of the side board. These props have their lower ends engaged in suitable openings or sockets provided therefor in the frame bars 11 or 21 and in the supporting arms 55, respectively,while their upper ends will be engaged in .or against suitable holling members provided on't-he underside of the side board.

When the machine is to be moved along road or is-to be otherwise transported the side board is removed from the brackets 62 and is disposed below the side bars 9- of the frame with one end resting upon brackets 66 carried by the rear axle, and its opposite endsupported from the side bars bybolts 67. The side board is thus disposed out of the-way so that itwill not interfere with the travel of the machine over narrow roads or require dismantling of the machine "when it is to be secured upon a freight car-for shipment.

A blower and blast spout are provided at the rear end of the machine,aas indicated at 68 and 69, respectively. The blower shaft is mounted in suitable bearings upon extension bars'ZO and 71, the bar 2' 1 bei'ng secured to and projecting rearwardly from the rear inclined frame bar- 12, while theibar :70 is disposed laterally beyond the plane of the bar 16 and is connected by a coupling bar '72 with a brace 73 which is secured at its lower end upon the rear axle and extends upwardly and'inwardly therefrom to the bar 16 to which it is secured. The bar is further supported by posts 7% secured to and rising from the axle and the rear end of the side bar 9, and a post rises from the side bar 9 at the opposite side of the machine to support the rear end of the bar 71. e thus provide a strong frame support for the blower and its shaft and also so brace the structure as to prevent one side of the frame creeping ahead of the other side and destroying the rigidity of the frame. The blower spout or blast pipe comprises a rigid section 7 5 which rises directly from the blower 68 and has a turntable 76 at its upper end. .his turntable carries the jointed end portions 69 of the spout wherebyv the spout is carried in a curvilinear manner, either forwardly or .laterall or rearwardlv the said 'ointed nortions 69 being connected with a rigid pipe section 77 of the usual length and provided at its end with a collar or band 78 having a flange 79 and equipped with an eye 80. A second straight section 81 is likewise provided with a band 82 having a flange 83. When the machine is in use, the flanges 79 and 83 are bolted together so as to form tight joint with the sections in alinement so that the chaff and other waste matter may be delivered at a point distant from the machine. The section 81 is provided at its delivery end with a deflecting hood 8% whereby the chaff and other material flowing through the spout will be directed downwardly to the ground. The spout and blower are, of course, located at one sine of the machine, and to prevent warping of the machine through the vibration of the parts in operation, we provide a diagonal brace 85 which is secured at one end to the rear frame bar 12 and at its opposite end to the turntable 76. At the same side of the machine as the blower and the spout, a brace 86 is provided which extends from the bar 16 to the turntable and may be an extension of the upper beam 18.

. To support the blast spout, we provide a prop consisting of a straight shanl; 87 which may be secured to brackets bolted to the frame bar 19, or to an arm 55, and has its upper end turned laterally, as shown at 88, a stirrup or rest 89 being secured upon and carried by the free end of the said laterally turned portion. This stirrup 89 is adapted to fit partly around the section 7'? of the spout when the spout is arranged to project forwardly over the machine, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in which case it will be noted that the sections are separated and are tied side by side with a rope 90. It will be seen that in this described and illustrated position of the prop, the lateral arm 88 projects rearwardly over the machine and the spout is arranged in disassembled, compact form, so that the machine may be driven over a road or may be transported, while economizing space. If it be desired to move the machine over a road without disconnecting the sections of the spout or blast pipe, the prop 87 is turned so that the arm 88 will project forwardly and the stirrup will then be properly located to engage under the outer section of the pipe and support the same. i

To support the spout in its working position, we provide a mast 91 which has its lower end adapted to rest upon a base block 92 secured rigidly upon the rear bar 16,

and it is held in position to.rotate about.

its own axis upon the said base block by a staple or ring 98,which is fixed upon the side of the brace 86. The mast is provided intermediate its ends with a lateral bend or ofiset portion 94- adapted to fit around the spout when the spout is projecting over the machine. At the upper end of the mast a hook 95 is pivotally mounted to carry the pulley block 96 over which the hoisting cable 97 runs, and the base block 92 and the ring 93 are so disposed that the upper end of the mast will be brought into the vertical plane of the turntable 76 and alined therewith, the hook 95 being thus permitted to turn with the spout without causingentanglement of the hoisting cable. The end of the cable 97 is secured to a Windlass or winding shaft 98 mounted upon the mast in the usual manner. This mast, when the machine is to be transported, is secured against one of the side bars 9 as shown in Fig. 2, so that it will be out of the way and yet will not be apt to be lost. The mast maybe easily mounted when the machine is to be set up for use by a single operator, inasmuch as all that needs to be done is to engage the mast upon the base block and lit the ring or other retaining member 93 in place. The cable 97 carries a block and hook which is then engage-d with the eye upon the spout, after which a slight winding of the cable will lift the spout out of the stirrup 89 and permit it to be swung to the operating position.

Upon the blower shaft, we secure a spiral feeder 100 which leads'into the blower and overcomes the choking which would otherwise be caused by the blower she t extending across the path of the outgoing material.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A corn-husking machine comprising a frame, husliing rolls mounted in the frame, a feeding conveyor mounted in the top of the frame, a side board detachably mounted upon the side of the frame adjacent said feeding conveyor and constituting a receiving table, a back board detachably mounted at the opposite side of the frame and con stituting a bundle stop, supporting arms secured to the front end of the frame and projecting forwardly therefrom and then upwardly at the side of the front end of the side board, and a platform resting upon the forwardly projecting portions of said arms.

2. In a corn-bushing machine, the combination of front and rear wheels, axles carrying said wheels, a frame supported by said axles, a side table, means for detachably supporting said table on the side of the frame at the top thereof, brackets projecting from the rear axle to support the rear end of the side table for transportation, and means at the bottom of the frame to support the front end of the side table.

3. A corn-husking machine including means for stripping husks firoin. ears of corn, a blower for driving off waste, a blower shaft mounted transversely in the rear end of the machine, and a spiral feeder on the blower shaft at one side of and'leading axially into the blower.

4:. A corn-huslring machine comprising upper and lower side bars, traveling sup ports for the side bars, longitudinally disposed upwardly converging bars rising from the lower side bars, the forward bars being secured at their rear ends to the corresponding rear bars and the rear bars being secured to the upper side bars, intermediate bars rising from the lower side bars and connected with the upper side bars and the converging bars, vertical bars rising from the front ends of the lower side bars and connected to the upper side bars. panels secured to the several bars whereby to constitute a housing enclosing all the working parts, husking rollers carried by the forward portions of the forward converging bars, snapping rollers carried by the upper portions of the intermediate bars, and frame plates secured to the upper ends of the intermediate bars and the rear converging bars and constituting guards for the upper ends of the snapping rollers.

5. A corn-husking machine comprising a frame, husking rollers mounted in the frame, a feeding conveyer mounted in the top of the frame, a side table detachably mounted upon one side of the frame adjacent the feeding conveyer, and a back board detachably mounted at the opposite side of the frame and constituting a bundle stop.

6. In a corn-husking machine, the combination of a main supporting frame, snapping rolls supported by said frame in a steeply inclined position, a cutter mounted in the frame below and near the snapping rolls, huslring rolls mounted on the frame below the snapping rolls in a relatively slightly inclined position, unitary gearing common to and operatively connecting the lower ends of the snapping rolls and the upper ends of the husking rolls, means for rotating the cutter, and means for transferring rotation from the cutter directly to the gearing connecting the snapping and the bushing rolls.

In testimony whereof we atiix our signatures.

THEODORE H. OPPENHEIM. [L. s.] BERNARD SELHORST. [1,. s.] 

